Head with actuator for aerosol can dispensing valve



June 21, 1966 N. w. sEAQUlsT HEAD WITH ACTUATOR FOR AEROSOL CANDISPENSING VALVE Filed July 3l, 1964 |"`f` v 'VN 5mg/52@ @M al@2,579,977 issued December 25, 1951.

United States Patent O 3,257,044 HEAD WITH ACTUATOR FOR AEROSOL CANDISPENSING VALVE Nels W. Seaquist, Crystal Lake, Ill., assignor, bymesne assignments, to Seaquist Valve Company, Division of PittsburghRailways Company, Cary, Ill., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed July31, 1964, Ser. No. 386,648 7 Claims. (Cl. 222-394) This inventionrelates to a dispensing head for an aerosol valve and more particularlyto a dispensing head with a diaphragm top face and an integraliingerpiece whereby a simplified molded structure is possible with noincrease in actuation force required to open the aerosol valve. It isimprovement over application Serial No. 306,201, filed September 3,1963. t

Valves for aerosol cans generally comprise a valve body with a springbiased valve stem therein which reciprocates within the body.

The valve stem may, as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 3,985,753, issuedA-pril 16, 1963, be hollow with a closed bottom end and a disch-argeport on its sidewall. Sealing means normally seal the port until thevalve is actuated by depressing thehollow stem into the valve body.

The valve stem may also, as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 2,841,443,issued July l, 1958, be aV solid inverted mushroom-shaped member. Thesealing means is disposed between the mushroom head and a lower surfaceof the valve body. Thus as the stern is depressed into the valve body,the seal between the mushroom head and the body is broken causingrelease of the contents of the can.

1t is desirable to minimize the actuation force necessary to operate thevalve. Women frequently complain that the valve is too stil and requiresintense nger pressure to operate it. A dispensing head frequently addsto the amount of pressure required. U.S. Patent No. 2,75 3,- 214 issuedJuly 3, 1956, typies this complaint. Further, the structure ofdispensing heads are frequently complicated causing high manufacturingand valve assembly cost. Witness for example the structure shown in U.S.

In addition, certain structures (see U.S. 2,753,214, supra), lendthemselves to only one dispensing direction to be fully operable.

' Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a nov'eldispensing head for an aerosol valve.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dispensing head whichcan be modified by only slight changes in 'structure to provide fordifferent dipsensing direction.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing head which lis simple instructure so that it can be molded economically. i

A further object is to provide a dispensing head which requires onlyminimal force to actuate the valve.

Astill further object is to provide a dispensing head 'which has meansincorporated therein to avert accidental `has minimalv cloggingtendencies.

ice

Another object is to provide a dispensing head which is easy to apply toa valve regardless of the structure utilized for the valve stem.

Other objects of the invention will in part be Obvious and will in partappear hereinafter.

The inventionv accordingly comprises the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will beeXemplii'ledin the constructions hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

The dispensing head of this invention, in itsbroadest aspects, comprisesa tubular wall member 10 having a diaphragm 12 disposed across the tubecavity. In the central portion of said diaphragm .is a dischargepassageway 14 which terminates externally as a dispensing oritice. Thepassageway extends through the center of the diaphragm at a slight angleto vertical and shrinks down to a spray orifice 18.

More particularly, the dispensing head herein comprises a tubular Wallor skirt 10, the inner diameter of which is preferably madeapproximately equal to the outer diameter of rim 20 of the aerosol valveto which the head is preferably aixed. The dispensing head also has anouter tubular wall 60` with a diameter approximating the outer diameterof the aerosol can so as to present a uniform columnar appearance (FIG.3). A lower inner annular shoulder 22, in the inside surface of skirt\10 coupled with the resiliency of the plastic material of which thehead is made permits a snap-tit attachment onto rim 20.

Disposed across the cavity of tubular Wall 10 is a diaphragm 12. =Foradded resiliency, the diaphragm may have one or more annular concentricaccordion-like folds (one is shown, numbered 24), superimposed therein.The center of the diaphragm is thicker and .contains a passage* vway 14,which leads from the aerosol valve to a dispensing orifice 18. Disposedwithin the passageway is a step 25 with an ann-ular seal ring 26 thereinwhich engages the top of the valve stem to prevent leakage around anddown vertical axis of the dispensing head and opens into a unii quelydesigned orice basin 62 which provides for clear drip-free dispensing ofthe contents. An off-center ngerpiece 44, is used to actuate the valve.I

The dispensing head also has a stacking provision, to wit: wing'46,which comprises an extension of both skirt 10 and outer wall 60 joinedby a bowl-shaped annular bridge 64. Such a joint wing providesadditional strength, permits Aa decrease in material used to mold thehead, and improves its appearance. A capping means, which comprises asheet 66 may be heat sealed to .the Iwing 46 to prevent pilferage.

For a fuller understanding of the nat-ure and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of this dispensinghead of this invention shown .mounted upon the crown top of an aerosolcan.

FIG'. 2 is a top View of the dispensing head of FIG, l.

FIG. 3 is a side View of the heel end of the dispensing head of FIG. 1.

FlG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of theV unique valve sternseal ring. A

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

Specifically, the dispensing head, as seen in FIG. l, consists of atubular wall or skirt which snap-tits over the valve housing rim 2) andis preferably retained there "by an annular anchoring shoulder 22 on thelower inside surface of the skirt. Since the dispensing head ispreferably made of a resilient plastic, such as polyethylene,polypropylene, ethylcellulose or the like, shoulder 22 has suflcientresiliency after being snapped over rim to regain its original diameter.Thus the head is securely held to the valve housing. Such simpleattach-ment means are very desirable for high-speed canning or assemblyoperation.

To provide support to the skirt 10 so that a thinner wall can be used,if desired, several radially spaced vertical ribs 23 (see FIGS. l and 2)are utilized.

Atiixed across the tubular cavity is a diaphragm 12. The diaphragm hasan annular concentric accordion-like fold 24 therein for easing theamount of force needed to depress the diaphragm and actuate the valve.Indeed, these folds maybe so designed that a minimum amount of fingerpressure is needed. And, by ,appropriate design of the biasing means ofthe aerosol valve, the complaint that the valve is 'hard to open iscompletely appeased.

The center of the diaphragm has a thickened central section whichcontains a passageway 14. The lower end of the passageway 14 is designedso that it will force fit upon the hollow valve stem 36, or upon atubular extension of valve body (not shown), dependent upon theparticular valve being used. supplementing the force fit is a uniquelydesigned seal ring 26 which faces downwardly from step 25 locatedintermediate the ends of passageway 14. The seal ring 26 bears againstthe top surface of the valve stem 36. And since it is resilient, byreason of the fact that it is made of the same plastic as the dispensinghead body, it flexes with every depression of the fingerpiece 44 and/ orcocking of the valve stem 36. In essence, the seal ring continuouslyengages the top surface of the valve stern and seals the dispensedproduct within the connected valve stem passageway and dispensing headpassageway so that there is no unsightly or unsanitary downward leakageor seepage between the valve stem and the lower portion of passageway14. It should be evident that a uniquely simple seal against valvestem-dispensing head leakage has been devised.

The upper end of passageway 14 shrinks down to an angle orifice 18 whichpierces the central portion of the diaphragm and opens into an orificebasin 62. The face of the basin is angled with respect to the verticalaxis of the dispensing head. Its function is to provide a cleandrip-free spray action to the head. Although the mechanistn of suchspray action is not completely understood, it is believed that t-he bowlshape of the basin 62 sets up a venturi-like flow of ambient air withinthe basin with the emitted spray when the valve is actuated. Such owsucks or carries along any aerosol material which may have leaked outinto the basin 62, on the previous actuation of the valve. Also, theflow minimizes leakage during the terminal portion of the valve.actuation of the valve period because the venturi-like flow continueseven after valve actuation is stopped. Thus, the basin is swept-clean.

An ot-center'ngerpiece 44 integral at its base with said central portionextends to the interruption 56 of wing 46 so that the nger of theoperator may enter the bowl upper surface of the head and actuate thevalve.

As seen in FIG. l, wing 46 is interrupted to accommodate the off-centerngerpiece 44 and to provide space for entry of the operators finger. Foradded rigidity, the iingerpiece 44 has a peripheral downward extendingskirt 68 which protrudes through cut-out 70 (FIG. 2) within thediaphragm 12.

The dispensing head may be capped with a sheet 66 heat sealed to theupper lip edge of wing 46. Thus, if anyone has tampered with the sheetprior to sale to the'ultimate consumer, it is easily detectable by thefact that the seal is broken or damaged.

FIG. 1 illustrates the unique stacking possibility of the dispensinghead of this invention. As seen, the wing 46 permits the placement of asecond can upon the dispensing head without danger of activating thevalve. Obviously, in stacking the cans, the height of the stack is of noimportance because the valve is protected.

It-will thus be seen that objects set forth above, among those madeapparent from the preceding description, are eliiciently attained and,since certain changes may be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, `and all statements of the scope of the invention, which, asa matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing head for an aerosol can with a valve comprising atubular wall member having a diaphragm with a thickened central sectiondisposed across the top thereof and an annular shoulder adapted tosnap-lit over the edges of the housing of said valve, said diaphragmhaving at least one annular accordion-like fold concentric to saidthickened central section super-imposed therein for added resiliency,said thickened central section having a passageway formed therein whichterminates externally as a discharge orifice and internally as means forconnection to the discharge part of said valve, said discharge orificeopening into an angularly disposed orifice basin, and a iingerpieceaflixed to said central section of said diaphragm for actuating saiddiaphragm.

2. The dispensing head of claim 1 wherein said passageway has adownwardly extending seal ring which engages the top of the dischargeport of said valve to prevent leakage around said discharge port.

3. The dispensing head of claim 1 wherein said discharge orificecomprises a nozzle angled with respect to the vertical axis of saiddispensing head.

4. The dispensing head of claim 1 wherein said tubular wall member andsaid diaphragm meet in annular wing structure and said wing structurehas sheet means afhxed to its upper surface to prevent pilferage.

5. A dispensing head for an aerosol can with a valve comprisingconcentric tubular wall members joined together at their upper ends byan annular upward opening bowl-shaped bridge, the inner wall having adiaphragm with a thickened central section disposed across the tubecavity and means for affixing said head to said can, said diaphragmhaving at least one annular accordion-like fold concentric to saidthickened section superimposed therein for added resiliency, saidthickened central section containing a passageway, a discharge oricecommunicating with said passageway which comprises a shrunken extensionof said passageway through said diaphragm, angled with respect to theaxis of said dispensing head, said discharge orifice opening into anangularly disposed orifice basin which acts to provide cleaner drip-freedispensing of the contents of the aerosol can, and said outer tubularwall member extending upwardly of said diaphragm into an interruptedwing structure wherein stacking is possible, an off-center -radiallyextending ngerpiece aiiixed to said central portion of said diaphragm,and disposed adjacent said interruption in said wing structure whereinsaid valve connected thereto may be actuated.

6. The dispensing head of claim 5, wherein said inner tubular wallcontains vertically disposed ribs for added support.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/ 1954 Allen222-542 X 9/1956 Stroh 222-143 X Cochran 222-394 X Sagarin 222-182 XSanborn 222-182 X Wakeman 239-337 ODonnell 222-394 X Focht 222-182RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner.

1. A DISPENSING HEAD FOR AN AEROSOL CAN WITH A VALVE COMPRISING ATUBULAR WALL MEMBER HAVING A DIAPHRAGM WITH A THICKENED CENTRAL SECTIONDISPOSED ACROSS THE TOP THEREOF AND AN ANNULAR SHOULDER ADAPTED TOSNAP-FIT OVER THE EDGES OF THE HOUSING OF SAID VALVE, SAID DIAPHRAGMHAVING AT LEAST ONE ANNULAR ACCORDION-LIKE FOLD CONCENTRIC TO SAIDTHICKENED CENTRAL SECTION SUPER-IMPOSED THEREIN FOR ADDED RESILIENCY,SAID THICKENED CENTRAL SECTION HAVING A PASSAGEWAY FORMED THEREIN WHICHTERMINATES EXTERNALLY AS A DISCHARGE ORIFICE AND INTERNALLY AS MEANS FORCONNECTION TO THE DISCHARGE PART OF SAID VALVE, SAID DISCHARGE ORIFICEOPENING INTO AN ANGULARLY DISPOSED ORIFICE BASIN, AND A FINGERPIECEAFFIXED TO SAID CENTRAL SECTION OF SAID DIAPHRAGM FOR ACTUATING SAIDDIAPHRAGM.